Vancouver Island Treasures – Parksville & Qualicum Beach

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Lazy days spent in the sun at a sandy beach are what vacation day dreams are made of. Add day trips to caves, a cathedral of old-growth trees, ocean kayaking, and quirky shops (including goats on the roof), and you have the recipe for a spectacular family vacation destination. So where is this magical place? Look north to the small towns of Parksville and Qualicum Beach on the eastern shore of Vancouver Island, about 1.5 hours by ferry from Vancouver, British Columbia.

Beach fun

The Parksville Qualicum Beach ocean-side beaches provide prime play opportunities for everyone who visits this area. Whether you’re walking along the trails, rowing a dinghy, or flying a kite in the steady breeze, there’s hours of fun to be had on these beaches, whether the tides in or way, way out. Dig sand castles? The Parksville Sand Sculpting Competition is held annually from mid-July to mid-August in Parksville’s main ocean front park. This global event is one of the biggest sand sculpting competitions in the world.

If classic cars spark more interest, Qualicum Beach hosts an annual Seaside Cruizers Show N Shine on Father’s Day weekend each June. Over 600 classic and vintage vehicles invite admiration at this show, which was featured as one of Oprah’s Top 10 things to do on Father’s Day.

Yes, those are goats on the roof!

Goats and gardens

A short, ten-minute drive west of Parksville is the unique and quirky village of Coombs. Where else can you see the Goats-on-Roof of the Old Country Market? It has become one of the top tourist destinations in British Columbia, and the shopping at the Market and other unique shops make a memorable experience. The Market includes the amazing Coombs Country Ice Cream Shoppe, with 60+ flavors, including the local favorite, Nanaimo Bar. Nearby you’ll find the tropical paradise of Butterfly World & Gardens. Children will love the colorful and gentle butterflies as they float about and feast on fruit. There are also turtles, tropical birds, and an indoor orchid garden.

Just north of Parksville is Milner Gardens & Woodland. This serene garden oasis is the creation of one woman and is now administered by Vancouver Island University. It features a heritage rhododendron collection and acres of tall cedar and Douglas firs trees. The Gardens also offer a traditional English Tea service in the historic Milner House, with an unsurpassed view of the ocean.

Get out and play on the water with an ocean-going kayak

Ocean kayaking

Ocean kayaking is a wonderful family adventure. It’s a great physical workout (especially for teens in a solo kayak), and you might get a chance to get up close to sea lions and other ocean creatures, and if you’re lucky, even whales. What an unforgettable West Coast experience!

I can’t believe I’m going in here! Caving at Horne Lake (This gate is no longer open to the public but you can still enjoy the Horne Lake Caves)

Caving

Are you afraid of the dark? Then Horne Lake Caves is not the place for you. But if you can handle the confined spaces, this incredible, underground wonder that you can only see when your headlamp is turned on is unforgettable. There are family tours of the caves, and for the really adventurous, a rappelling tour. Gulp.

Walk among the giants at Cathedral Grove

Hiking

A 30-minute drive west of Parksville brings you to the awe-inspiring world of giants: Cathedral Grove Provincial Park. This park is home to some of the last remaining old growth Douglas fir trees in the province. Trails on either side of the highway allow visitors to wander through the forest and around the trees themselves, many of which are 20+ feet wide.

An evening around the campfire at Beach Acres

Where to Stay in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area

For a splurge-worthy stay, make a reservation at Tigh-Na-Mara is a rustic holiday resort, but with all of the luxuries. Whether you want an oceanview room or a family-style cottage complete with a kitchen, the resort offers something for every travelling style.

Spa lovers flock to the resort’s Grotto Spa, voted as the best spa in Western Canada. From the resort it’s a short walk down to the beach, when you can spend the entire day or attend an evening beach campfire barbecue. Budget-seekers will want to bed down at Beach Acres, a traditional family resort with charming individual cottages and self-contained units with kitchen facilities. Its unbeatable beachfront location and laid-back vibe combine to create total vacation relaxation.

Camping families flock to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park, a personal favorite. This campground is situated near two beaches—one rocky, the other sandy—with a tide that goes way out into the Straight. Perks include playgrounds, showers, hiking and cycling trails throughout, and a Nature House.

What appeals most to you about the Parksville Qualicum Beach area…the beaches, caving, hiking…or the goats on the roof? Let us know in the comments below!

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About Claudia Laroye, The Curious Travel Mama

Claudia Laroye lives in Vancouver, Canada, with her husband and two sons (ages 18 and 20). She started travelling at a very young age, and has never stopped. She’s had the fortune of visiting more than 20 countries on four continents, and has also lived abroad in Sweden. Claudia is passionate about family travel and about educating children through the travel experience. She is the author of the thetravellingmom.ca, and contributes to many online and print media publications. Connect with Claudia on Twitter as @travelling_mom.

Hi there! I'm Colleen Lanin, the founder of Travel Mamas. I launched this family travel blog in 2009 to help parents better connect with their kids and the world through travel and beyond. I love being a mom, traveling, swimming in fabulous hotel pools, and doing Pilates so I can eat lots of gluten-free dessert. Click on the pic to learn more about moi!